The New Orleans Saints went from worst to first in 2006 in the NFC South division and came within one game of the Super Bowl. Find out if the forecast is just as positive for New Orleans in Jimmy Boyd's 2007 NFL Preview for Point-Spreads.com.

Sportsbook.com has made the New Orleans Saints 18 to 1 odds to win Super Bowl XLII.

One of the most story book turnarounds in NFL history took place in New Orleans in last season. Not only did the Saints go from worst to first in their division, but they also made it to the NFC Championship game for the first time in franchise history. Led by a new coach (Sean Payton) and a new starting quarterback (Drew Brees), the Saints took the NFL by storm and brought a winning attitude to a ravaged region.

Coach Sean Payton and QB Drew Brees worked flawlessly together to produce the top offense in the league. A completely renovated roster produced several no-name gems like Marques Colston, Jahri Evans, Jeff Faine, and Scott Shanle. If you haven't heard of them yet, you will in 2007. And along with a solid base of top notch talent, including Brees, Jammal Brown, Deuce McAllister, Reggie Bush, Scott Fujita, and Will Smith, the Saints appear to be in great position to make another run at an NFC title.

Sean Payton's offense is so dangerous because it can beat you in so many different ways. Its imagination is beyond the realm of most defensive coordinators' minds across the league. The Saints can beat you airing it out with Pro Bowl QB Drew Bress, the league's passing yardage leader in 2006, and WR Marques Colston, the runner-up to Vince Young for rookie of the Year. They can run between the tackles with freight train RB Deuce McAllister or break runs to the outside with the versatile and elusive RB Reggie Bush.

The offensive line lacks star power outside of left tackle Jammal Brown, who earned a trip to the Pro Bowl in his first season on the left side, but it is a solid run and pass blocking unit overall -- one that many teams, namely the Detroit Lions, would love to have. The league's top ranked offense returns all of its playmakers except for injury-plagued WR Joe Horn, but it adds talented receivers tight end Eric Johnson and rookie wide receiver Robert Meachem to the mix which will more than make up for Horn being out.

The defense improved drastically under first-year coordinator Gary Gibbs, but it still must advance from being a bend but don't break unit to a playmaking unit if the Saints are to take the next step. After all, it was the Bears ability to make plays on the defensive side of the football in the NFC Championship game which ended the Saints' season.

The Saints ranked next to last in takeaways in 2006 to give you an idea of how much this category needs improving. The line is solid with the dynamic tandem of Will Smith and Charles Grant. The linebacker corps and secondary are talented, but these units have some holes. All in all, the Saints will be the team to beat in the South and among the best in the NFC with the Bears and Eagles.

NFL Future:
Stephen Garcia
Stephen Garcia Jefferson four-star quarterback Stephen Garcia made his commitment to South Carolina last week at a press conference at his school. Over the weekend, the 6-foot-3, 215-pound star made his official visit to Columbia and the trip only reinforced his decision. Find out all the scoop on the visit and more in this Gamecock Central update.

February News
•Bush teams with Shaq to host All-Star charity event
•Dog thinks 2 $900 Super Bowl tickets tasty treat
•Boonton man scores big with Super Bowl tickets
•Dog thinks 2 $900 Super Bowl tickets tasty treat

Super Bowl Weekend
•OK!'s Guide to the Super Bowl Parties
•"Hannah" primed to claim Super Bowl weekend
•Paris Hilton, Ludacris party alongside 50 Cent at pre-game Super Bowl concert

January News:
•Reggie Bush to Give Deposition
•New Book Points a Finger at Reggie Bush
•Reggie Bush Engaged to Kim Kardashian?

December News:
•Eagles vs. Saints Preview 12/23/07
•Bush Hoping to Play Against Eagles 12/18/07
•Cardinals 24, Saints 31
•Bush Out For the Year 12/12/07
•Falcons 14, Saints 34 12/10/07
•Falcons vs. Saints Preview 12/10/07
•Buccaneers 27, Saints 23 12/02/07
•Buccaneers vs. Saints Preview 12/02/07

November News:
•Panthers 6, Saints 31 11/25/07
•The Dissapointment of Reggie Bush 11/21/07
•Texans 23 Saints 10 11/18/07
•Jaguars Saints Preview 11/04/07

October News:
• Falcons 16 Saints 22 10/21/07
• Preview: Atlanta Falcons vs New Orleans Saints
• Saints 28,Seahawks 17 10/14/07
• Preview: Saints Vs Seahawks 10/14/07

September News:
• Titans 31, Saints 14
• Duo Clash: Reggie Bush and Vince Young Meet Again
• Preview: Tennessee Titans at New Orleans Saints
• Bucs 31 Saints 14
• New Orleans 10, Indianapolis 41
• Preview: New Orleans at Indianapolis
• Saints have Super Bowl aspirations

August News:
• Saints Make Progress, Dominating at Times - 08/27/07
• Brees Strong as New Orleans Saints Blowout Chiefs - 08/24/07
• New Orleans Saints at Kansas City Chiefs - 08/23/07
• New Orleans Saints Ready for Cincinnati Bengals
• Saints Bid Farewell to Jackson
• Saints' Starters Set to Hit the Field Against Bengals
• New Orleans Saints - NFC South Preview
• New Orleans Saints Play Exhibition on Sunday
• 2007 New Orleans Saints Odds and Predictions
• Saints Already Eyeing Sunday Night Opener

July News:
• Second-Year Coach is Reason for Saints' Success
• These Saints May Have Answers
• New Orleans Saints Enter '07 in Strange Position — as Contenders
• Will '07 Saints be Super?
• 2007 NFL Preview: New Orleans Saints
• New Orleans Saints Predictions

June News:
• New Orleans Saints Ready for Training
• New Orleans Saints Almost Finished With OTA's
• New Orleans Saints' Brees Buries Past, Looks to Future
• New Orleans Saints Signs Two Local Players
• New Orleans Saints' Meachem Expected Back by Camp
• New Orleans Saints 2007 Preview

May News:
• New Orleans Saints Camp Shows Team Ready For NFL Tops

April News:
• JaMarcus Russell, Draft, New Orleans Saints
• New Orleans Saints 2007 - 2008 Schedule
• New Orleans Saints 2007 Draft Preview

Feb News:
• Saints Limp into Scouting Combine
• Saints Tag Grant as Franchise Player
• New Orleans Saints Re-Sign LB Scott Shanle
• Super Bowl XLI Champions - Indianapolis Colts
• As You Watch Super Bowl, Don't Forget New Orleans

Jan News:
• Super Bowl XLI Preview
• New Orleans Saints Eager to Build on a Winning NFL Season
• Bears Win Over Saints - NFC Champions
• Saints vs. Bears - Playoffs NFC Championship
• Philadelphia 24, New Orleans 27
• Eagles at Saints - Playoffs
• Saints' 2007 Opponents Set

Dec News:
• Saints 21, Panthers 31
• Saints vs. Panthers Preview
• Saints 30, Giants 7
• Saints vs. Giants Preview
• Saints Fall to Redskins, but March into Playoffs
• Redskins vs. Saints Preview
• New Orleans Saints 42, Dallas Cowboys 17
• More About New Orleans Saints vs. Dallas Cowboys
• New Orleans Saints vs. Dallas Cowboys Preview
• Reggie Bush’s 4 TD’s: New Orleans Saints 34, San Francisco 49ers 10

Nov News:
• New Orleans Saints vs. San Francisco 49ers Preview
• New Orleans Saints Playoff Contenders
• New Orleans Saints 31, Atlanta Falcons 13
• Saints vs. Atlanta Preview
• Cincinnati Bengals 31, New Orleans Saints 16
• Another Saints vs. Bengals Preview
• New Orleans Saints vs. Cincinnati Bengals Preview
• Pittsburgh 38, New Orleans 31
• Saints, Steelers, Headed in Opposite Directions
• New Orleans Saints at Pittsburgh Steelers Preview
• New Orleans Saints at Mid Season
• New Orleans 31,Tampa Bay 14

Oct News:
• Saints Vs Ravens - Saints Lose
• New Orleans Saints Report Card
• Just Like the City of New Orleans, Saints Bounce Back
• New Orleans Saints Story Almost Too Good To Be True
• Philadelphia Eagles Collapse to New Orleans Saints 27-24
• Eagles Vs Saints Preview
• New Orleans Saints 24 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers 21
• New Orleans Saints Ready for Tampa Bay Bucs
• Saints Again Show Spunk, but Run Out of Gas